University of Warwick to host the first of this year's Mars Just Play Festival

Budding football stars will descend on the University of Warwick on February 19 for the first Mars Just Play Festival of 2012.

A free 5-a-side tournament will kick-off with team registration from 11.30am with matches being played on the 3G all-weather pitches, at the Westwood Campus, between 12noon and 5pm.

There will also be a Just Play session running from 12noon -1pm on the Tarkett 3G pitch for anyone to come along and get involved. The session will be run by an FA Level 1 qualified coach, who will be on hand to answer questions on improving football skills or doing tricks.

A penalty shootout and crossbar challenge will also be held in the Just Play session.

For women looking to get involved there will be a female only session held from 12noon, meeting at Tarkett 3G pitch. Any and all women, regardless of knowledge or experience of the game are invited to come along and give football a go in a friendly and fun environment.

University Sports Officer Chris Sury said: “We are really looking forward to fantastic festive of football next Sunday.

“It is great that Warwick has been chosen as the first venue for the Mars Just Play events in 2012 and I am sure we are going to put on a show that will be hard to beat.”

The event is being held in partnership with the FA, Mars, British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), Birmingham County Football Association (BFA) and Leamington Football Club, and aims to engage new or retired male and female players in football and offer routes into other more sustainable playing opportunities.

Currently 30 teams have registered and the reserve team list is steadily growing. Students can just turn up and Just Play! on the day if they would like to get involved in the Just Play sessions and if a women’s team would like to enter a team they should email Cai.Robbins@bucs.org.uk.

Cai Robbins, BUCS Football Development Co-ordinator said: “This is set to be a great event. All partners have really worked hard to deliver an event that will engage and enthuse new and retired players back into the beautiful game.

“This is the first time a Festival has seen the inclusion of the female only Just Play! session and highlights the commitment being made to ensure the Festival really is open to all so we’re looking forward to seeing who comes along.

“Not only that, the link with Leamington Football Club, who will be delivering the male Just Play! session shows a clear drive to provide exit routes for players who would like to use this event as a spring board into more regular play.”